Process of and apparatus for purifying



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. BRAZBLLB. PROGESS 0F AND APPARATUS PORPURIFYING, REFINING, AND UARBURIZING METALS.

' (No Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. BRAZELLB. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING,REFINING, AND

CARBURIZING METALS.

Patented Sept. 6,v 1892.

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IN1@ L iINrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN BRAZELLE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING, REFINING, AND CARBURIZINGMETALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,001, datedSeptember 6, 1892.

Application lecl March 3l, 1892.

To all zz/hom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BRAZELLE, of the city of St. Louis, in theState of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inProcesses of and Apparatus for Purifying, Refining, and OarburizingMetals, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the purification, refinlng, and carburization ofmetals While in a molten or liquid condition by oxidizing anddeoxldizing them and eliminating their undesirable elements by theaction of blasts of highly-heated oxidizingand deoxidizing gases andsolids passing through them and adding desirable elements by forcingthem into the liquid metal by blasts of highlyheated non-oxidizinggases.

The object is to eect the separation, reining, carburizing,.andcombining of metals for industrial uses in a simple, inexpensive, andexpeditious manner; and to this end my invention, generally stated,consists in a novel method of and apparatus for burning fuel With air,heating a body of refractory material to a high temperature, cutting offthe supply of air and fuel, and supplying a charge of molten metal to aninclosed chamber, forcing an air-blast first through the body of hotrefractory material and thence through the body of molten metal,shutting off the airblast and forcing blasts of non oxidizing gasesfirst through the hot refractory material and 'thence through the bodyof molten metal, and from time to time reheating the body of refractorymaterial, drawing off the treated metal, and supplying a fresh charge tobe treated.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The subordinate details of my improved process may be preliminarilystated as embodying the heating of a body of refractory vmaterial to ahigh degree by burning fuel, (in

this case oil or gas with air,)"supplying abody or charge of moltenmetal to a closed chamber, and forcing blasts of oxidizing gasessuch asair, carbonio acid, or steam-together or separately, first through theheated body of refractory material and thence through the body of moltenmetal, in order to eliminate by burning or oxidizing the impurities orun- Serial No. 427,224. (No model.)

desirable elements, such as silicon, carbon, sulphur, phosphorus,antimony, arsenic, lead, dac. If oxides remain in the metal after theremoval of impurities, as stated, the refractory material may bereheated and blasts of non-oxidizing gases-such as hydrogen, hydrocarbongases, dac., but preferably hydrogen-are passed first through the hotrefractory material and thence through the body of molten metal, inorder to eliminate the oxides bydeoxidation, and also to eliminate anyother remaining impurities Which will be absorbed by or combine withhydrogen, such as sulphur, phosphorus, uc. The metal having beendeoxidized and the impurities eliminated, the hydrogen-blast is shutoffand the metal may be withdrawn, but if it should be desired to add to orcombine with the molten metal some other element, such as carbon,manganese, spiegel, te., as for the purpose of making steel, suchelement or elements are introduced into the apparatus and are forcedinto the body of molten metal by blasts of highlyheated non-oxidizinggases, as hydrogen or nitrogen, preferably nitrogen, for the reason thatit is more inert and is less liable to be occluded in the metal whenpassing through it, the gas-blasts leaving the desired elements in thebody of molten metal. The blasts of highly-heated gas which introduceand incorporate the added element or elements into and with the body ofmetal maintain the latter in a state of fluidity until the end of theoperations without exerting any external oxidizing influences whichwould interfere therewith.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough an apparatus adapted to the practice of my invention, and Fig. 2a plan or top view of the same.

In the practice of my invention I provide a chamber or casing 1,which isformed of iron lined with fire-brick and Which is divided g refractorymaterial, and is provided at top.

with an outlet 3, controlled by a valve or door 3b. A chamber 5, adaptedto contain a IOO .ping-gate or valve 5l.

charge of liquid metal, is located adjacent to the combustion-chamber 4and communicates therewith by a passage 5, which extends through thewall of the chamber 5, and is controlled at its outer end by a suitabletap- The metal-chamber is provided with a side cleaning-opening closedby a door 5c and has an outlet-passage 5d, controlled by a valve 5 inits top. A hopper G, having a cover G closing an opening in its top anda valve G controlling an opening in its bottom, is located above themetal-chamber 5 and communicates below the valve 6b through a passage Gwith the passage 5, which connects the combustion-chamber and themetal-chamber. A pipe 7, controlled by a suitable valve or valves, leadsfrom the top of the metal-chamber to a gas-holder. A pipe 8 is connectedat its top by a branch 9, controlled by a valve 9, with theregeneratorchamber 3 and is connected at its bottom by a branch 10,controlled by a valve 10, with the combustion-chamber il.

The following connections are made to the pipe S between the valves 9and 10, viz: a pipe 11, leading to an air-pump or pressureblower andcontrolled by a valve 11, a pipe 12, leading to a receptacle containinghydrocarbon oil or hydrogen or other non-oxidizing gas and controlled bya Valve 12, a pipe 13, leading from a source of supply of nitrogen gasand controlled by a pipe 13, and a pipe 14 for steam and oil supply,said pipe being controlled by a Valve 14. The metal-chamber 5 hhsconnected at its top an oil or gas supply pipe 1,5, controlled by avalve 15, and a pipe 16, leading to an air-pump or pressureblower andcontrolled by a valve 1G.

In the operation of an apparatus provided with the above-described orequivalent means for practicing my improved process the outlet-valve 3bof the regenerator-chamber 3, the valve 11 of the air-blast pipe 1l.,the valve 12 of the gas-supply pipe 12, and the valve 10 of the pipe 10,leading into the combustionchamber 4, are opened. The blast of air andgas entering the combustion-chamber ft is ignited and burned therein.rlhe metal-chamber 5 is heated preparatory to charging it with moltenmetal by opening the valves 15 and 1G of the oil or gas and theair-supply pipes 15 and 16. The blast of air and gas entering' the metalchamber 5 isignited and burned therein, and the heated products ofcombustion which escape through the passage 5 into thecombustion-chamber at thence pass, together with those of the combustionwhich takes place therein, through the openings 2 of the arch 2 into andthrough the regenerator-ch amber 3, escaping therefrom through theoutlet 3, the refractory material in said chamber being highly heated bythe products of conibustion from both the chambers 4 and 5. All thevalves are then closed. A charge of molten metal is then introduced intothe metal-chamber 5 from any suitable source of supply--as, say, ablast-furnace-throu gh the passage 5, and the door 5e of said passagebeing left open the valve 11 of the air-blast pipe 11 and the valve 9 ofthe pipe 9, leading into the regenerator-chamber 3, are opened. Theair-blast entering the regenerator-chamber is forced downward throughthe highlyheated refractory material therein into the combustion-chamberit, and thence through the passage 3 and upwardly through the moltenmetal in the chamber 5, the air-blast in its passage through the body ofmolten metal burning, oxidizing, and eliminating therefrom the containedimpurities-such as silicon, sulphur, phosphorus, antimony, lead,dac-and, together with the separated impurities, passing off through theopen outlet 51,

When it is desired to use other oxidizing gases, such as carbonio acidor steam, they may be introduced and forced through the hot refractorymaterial in the regenerator 3, either separately or mingled with theairblast, and thence through the molten metal. The oxidizing-blasthaving to a certain eX- tent oxidized the desirable metal or elements,they are deoxidized by shutting oft' the air or oxidizing blast, closingthe valve 5 and opening the valve (not shown) which controls the pipe 7,the valve 12 of the hydrogen-supply pipe 12, and the `valve 9 of thepipe 9, leading into the regenerator-chamber 3. A blast of hydrogen thenenters the regeneratorchamber and is forced downward through the hotrefractory material therein into the combustion-chamber 4, and thencethrough the passage 5 into the metalchamber' 5 and through the moltenmetal therein, in its passage deoxidizing the latter by combining withthe oxygen therein, and also taking up and carrying off such impuritiesas sulphur, arsenic, phosphorus, die. The gas which passes out at thepipe 7 is delivered to a holder. Then desired, hydrocarbon gases may beused in the same manner, either separately or mingled with thel'iydrogen-blast.

The objectionable or undesirable elements of the metal having beenremoved, all the valves are closed, and the purified metal may be drawnolf at the tapping-gate 5b; or if it is desired to produce steel themetal may be carbonized by opening the valve 12 of the pipe 12 andputting said pipe in communication with a hydrocarbonoil-receptacle,opening the valve 13 of the nitrogen-supply pipe, thevalve 9 of the inlet-pipe 9, and the valve of the pipe 7. Thenitrogen-blast and oil entering the regenerator-chamber 3 are forceddownward through the heated refractory material, the heat thereofcarbonizing the oil. The nitrogen aud carbon pass into the chamber 4t,and thence through the passage 5 into and through the molten metal inthe chamber 5, the carbon being taken up by the metal and the nitrogenpassing olf through the pipe 7 to a holder.

Hydrocarbon gas may be introduced with or without the nitrogen, ifpreferred, or, if it be desired, use solid carbon, such as pow- IOO IOS

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dered charcoal, or to introduce spiegel, manganese, aluminium, &c.,these materials are charged either separately or together into thehopper 6, and by means of the valve 6b are passed into the pipe 6, andthence into the passage 5. The hot nitrogen-blast entering the passage 5forces the solid element or elements forward and into the molten metal,the nitrogen at .the Sametime by its mechanical action expelling anyoccluded gases that may be in the body of metal and thereafter passing0E, as before stated. Any other desired elements may be introduced inlike manner. After these operations have been effected all open valvesare closed and the metal may be drawn olf at the tapping-gate 5b. Afresh charge of molten metal is thereafter introduced into the chamber5.

The refractory material in the chamber 3 is heated as often as necessaryby buring oil or gaseous' fuel; or solid carbonaceous fuel may beemployed, if preferred. It is important that the temperature of therefractory material in the chamber 3 should be kept fully as high asthat of the charge of metal under treatment, in order that the air andgas blasts maybe highly heated, so as to keep the molten metal in alimpid or liquid state to the end of the operation. The chamber 5 may becleaned, as from time to time required,through the opening controlled bythe door 5C.

I claim as my invention and desireto secure by Letters Patentl. Theimprovement in the method of purifying and refining metals, whichconsists in introducing molten metal into an inclosed chamber, highlyheating a mass of refractory material in a separate chamber, passing anair-blast first through the hot refractory material and thereafterthrough the molten metal, and shutting off the air-blast and forcing ablast of hydrogen first through the hot refractory material andthereafter through the molten metal, substantially as set forth.

2. The improvement in the method of purifying and refining metals, whichconsists in introducing molten metal into an inclosed chamber, highlyheating a mass of refractory material in a separate chamber, passing anair-blast first through the hot refractory material and thereafterthrough the molten metal, shutting off the air-blast and forcing a blastof hydrogen first through the hot refractory material and thereafterthrough the molten metal, and shutting oif the hydrogenblast and forcinga blast of nitrogen gas and a hydrocarbon first through the hotrefractory material and thereafter through the molten metal,substantially as set forth.

3. The improvement in the method of purifying and refining metals, whichconsists in introducing molten metal into an inclosed chamber, highlyheating a mass of refractory material in a separate chamber, passing anoXidizing-blast-such as steam or carbonio acid, or both-first throughthe hot refractory material and thereafter through the molten metal,shutting off the oxidizing-blast and forcing a non-oxidizing blast-suchas hydrogen or hydrocarbon gas-first through the hot refractory materialand thereafterthrough the molten metal, and shutting off thenon-oxidizing blast and forcing a solid material-such as charcoal, coke,spiegel, manganese, aluminium, &c.-into the body of molten metal bymeans of a blast of nitrogen gas previously heated by passing it throughthe hot refractory material, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for purifying and relining metals, the combination,substantially as set forth, of a combustion-chamber, a valve controllingan outlet therefrom, a regeneratorchamber communicating therewith andcontaining a body of loose refractory material, a metal-chambercommunicating by a passage With the combustion-chamber and having acharging-opening and a lower tapping-gate, air and gas and hydrocarbonpipes leading into the upper portion of the metal-chamber, air, gas, andsteam, and oil pipes controlled by valves and leading into aconnecting-pipe which communicates at its ends with the regenerator-chamber and the combustion-chamber, respectively, and valvescontrolling communication between said connecting-pipe and saidchambers.

5. In an apparatus for purifying and refining metals, the combination,substantially as set forth, of a combustion-chamber, a valve controllingan outlet therefrom, a regeneratorchamber communicating therewith andcontaining a body of loose refractory material, a metal-chambercommunicating by a passage with the combustion-chamber, a charginghopperfor solid material, a valve-controlled pipe leading therefrom to thepassage leading to the metal-chamber, an upper chargingopening and alower tapping-gate on the metal-chamber, air and gas and hydrocarbonpipes leading into the upper portion of the metal-chamber, air, gas, andsteam and oil pipes controlled by valves and leading into aconnecting-pipe which communicates at its ends with theregenerator-chamber and the combustion-chamber, respectively, and valvescontrolling communication between said pipe and said chambers.

BENJAMIN BRAZELLE.

Witnesses:

CHRISTIAN F. SCHNEIDER, INIoRRIs H. HoLzMAN.

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